Description

In 2008, Orissa's Kandhamal district had witnessed widespread communal riots on an unprecedented scale. The district's demographics is dominated by the Kandhamal community, who constitute about 52% of the district's population and practice Hinduism in various forms. Next in numbers are the dalit Pana community who have largely taken to Christianity in order to be liberated from the Hindu caste hierarchy and are a more dominant force socially, economically and politically. There had been friction between the communities for many years, especially over the issue of land rights, but the trigger came in the form of the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, a Vishva Hindu Parishad leader, and four others on August 23 by suspected Maoists. (Text by the feature story on Galli magazine http://www.galli.in)

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